Posts by Category: rugby

Title: The Birthday BoyLocation: WalthamstowCamera: Canon Ixus 850IS compactNotes: I have known Benedict’s mum since he was about 18 months old. Last Friday, he turned 18 – quite a scary thought! He’s a bit of a rugby fan, and plays on the Wing for his school team. So a group of us clubbed together to buy him something memorable for his big birthday, and presented it to him at his party this afternoon – a shirt signed by the 2003 Rugby World Cup winning England team. He looked suitably pleased with it, but had to be careful that I didn’t walk off with it whilst he wasn’t looking!

Title: Leap Into ActionLocation: Ricoh Arena, CoventryCamera: Canon EOS 30D / 75-300mm EF f/4-5.6 IS USMNotes: Great Heineken Cup semi final today, a really nailbiting game. Munster won by a mere two points (18-16), but Saracens kept attacking right up to the final whistle. This was early in the first half – Munster Captain Paul O’Connell reaches for a restart kick but just misses – while Saracen Hugh Vyvyan does a little dance down below.

Title: In The PinkLocation: Vicarage Road, WatfordCamera: Canon EOS 30D / 100-400mm EF f/4-5.6 L IS USMNotes: Saracens were supporting Breast Cancer Care this weekend, and wore special pink shirts for their match against London Wasps. Unfortunately, after an atrocious first half, Sarries’ faces matched their strip – they went in at the break 12-35 down. Harsh words must have been spoken in the dressing room at half time – they did pull their socks up for the second half. But it was still Wasps who were in the pink once the final whistle blew – a resounding 29-40 victory for them. And after that display, Munster must be quaking in their boots [cue sounds of ironic laughter] at the prospect of playing The Men In Pink (back to Black now) in next weekend’s Heineken Cup Semi Final. I only hope the change in fortunes is as temporary as the change in kit.

Title: Stopped In Their TracksLocation: Vicarage Road, WatfordCamera: Canon EOS 30D / 100-400mm EF f/4-5.6 L IS USMNotes: I had originally planned to carry on with my colour series for today, but in the end, I decided that it had to be a rugby shot. Three weeks ago, Ryan Jones led Wales to a Grand Slam in the Six Nations. A fortnight ago, he led many of the same players in the Osprey’s decisive 30-3 defeat of Saracens at the Millennium Stadium in the EDF Semi-Finals. Today was payback time. The Welsh side visited Sarries’ home turf in Watford with a sellout crowd of 18,214 watching the Heineken Cup Quarter Final. The home side were the underdogs and everyone expected the Ospreys to stroll into the Semis without much trouble. Wrong! Sarries put in an epic performance and beat the Ospreys 19-10, with the crowd yelling support from the rafters. A cracking game. Here you can see Ryan Jones being stopped in his tracks by Saracen Nick Lloyd. So obliging of him to be holding the ball the right way up for the Heineken Cup logo!

Title: Snowy Sarries Semi-FinalLocation: Millennium Stadium, CardiffCamera: Canon EOS 30D / 75-300mm EF f/4-5.6 IS USMNotes: A strange day for weather. Our bus set off from North London in heavy sleet. By the time we got to Cardiff the sun was out. So much so, that sitting in the East Stand of the Millennium Stadium (where they had foolishly left the roof open) I was blinded by the sun for the first half of the first Semi-Final, Leicester vs Wasps. As soon as the second Semi started, Sarries vs Ospreys, it started to snow! This was an early lineout, won by Saracen Hugh Vyvyan against Osprey Ryan Jones. Unfortunately, the Ospreys were rather too good for Saracens. It was a long drive home…

Title: Lost In ContactLocation: Vicarage Road, WatfordCamera: Canon EOS 30D / 75-300mm EF f/4-5.6 IS USMNotes: After losing three games on the trot, Saracens really needed a win at home to keep their league position healthy. Sale Sharks came visiting this week. Sarries were leading 21-7 at half time, the Sharks pulled back during the second half, but the final score stood at 24-20, finally breaking Saracens’ losing streak. It was an entertaining game, on the whole. Here, former French international Sebastien “Seabass” Chabal loses the ball after a hit from Glen Jackson. Sarries team mate Dan Scarborough is on hand to mop up the loose ball.